I was living at the end of the Ming Dynasty, and I dealt a brutal blow to the Eight Banners!

July of the fifteenth year of the Chongzhen reign.

Zheng Zhilong, in the name of the Earl of Pinglu of the Ming Dynasty, led 20,000 troops to occupy the entire Hizen Domain.

Tokugawa Iemitsu, the leader of the Tokugawa Shogunate, called on the lords of various domains to gather their troops, declare war on the Ming Dynasty, and form an allied army to march towards the Hizen Domain.

Zheng Zhilong, with his eldest son Zheng Sen as commander, led his army to Saga Castle in Hizen Domain to confront the shogunate's allied forces.

Zhang Jingchuan sat on the drill ground, listening to the military reports sent back from Japan while watching the cavalry training in the distance.

Tong Puhan's two batches of warhorses, totaling six thousand, have arrived at Fuzhou Guard.

Zhang Jingchuan then expanded the original Xiaoji Battalion into the Xiaoji Army, adding the previous two thousand cavalry to a total of eight thousand cavalry.

The elite cavalry was divided into four battalions, each with three thousand cavalrymen.

It was commanded by You Dai, a former subordinate of Sun Chengzong and who had served as the military commander of the Shanhai Iron Cavalry Battalion.

Once the remaining 4,000 warhorses arrive, the vacancies for the four battalions will be filled.

Zhang Jingchuan's management of Fuzhou and Jinzhou garrisons over the past year has led to the submission of Han Chinese from surrounding areas.

of course,

Among them were many outstanding generals who were dismissed from their posts due to their involvement in the case.

These people were eager to serve their country, but were not accepted by the court. After hearing about the deeds of the Earl of Pinglu in Liaodong and Guam, they all came to serve him.

all of these,

These are all benefits brought to him by his unique passive skills.

As more and more people joined them

The labor force and the source of soldiers have also been greatly expanded.

now,

Zhang Jingchuan's troops have increased to 60,000.

Based on the Jingzi Battalion, it was expanded into the first military garrison in Liaodong, with a strength of 20,000 men, and under its command three infantry battalions, two musketeer battalions, and two artillery battalions.

It was led by Wu Guozhong.

Based on the Chuanzi Battalion, it was expanded into the Second Military Garrison of Liaodong, with the same troop allocation as the First Garrison.

It was led by Xu Anguo, the son of Xu Fuzou.

Expansion of military strength

This was followed by pressure on supplies and the economy.

Relying solely on tariffs and aid from Korea is already becoming insufficient.

Zhang Jingchuan decided to send the Second Army to the Iwami Domain in Japan, primarily to seize control of the Iwami Silver Mine.

Secondly,

This was also to support Zheng Zhilong's 20,000 troops.

In fact, Zhang Jingchuan's idea was very simple and pure.

After capturing the Iwami Silver Mine, the silver mined was enough for him to continue expanding his army and then purchase warships and advanced firearms from the Dutch.

……

end of July.

On the Japanese side,

The shogunate's allied forces of over 40,000 men clashed fiercely with Zheng Sen's 20,000 troops near Saga Castle.

Because the Shogunate coalition was composed of troops from multiple feudal lords, and there were complex relationships and conflicts between them, the feudal lords harbored their own agendas and were unwilling to truly contribute.

Even though the Shogunate coalition had an absolute advantage in manpower, it still failed to achieve any substantial results.

Just when the two sides were locked in a stalemate,

Xu Anguo led the Second Army of Liaodong to land in the Iwami Domain, swiftly captured the Iwami Silver Mine, and continued to expand outwards.

Zhang Jingchuan's area is developing steadily and rapidly, like a paradise.

But what he didn't know was that,

Throughout the Ming Dynasty and in Guangning, the news of his surrender to the Qing Dynasty had already spread like wildfire.

……

Gaoling Post Station, located thirty li southwest of Guangning City.

Wu Sangui looked at Guo Yunlong and Sun Wenhuan with a gloomy expression.

He said in a deep voice:

"No matter what rumors circulate within the Great Wall, Zhang Jingchuan would never surrender to the Qing!"

Guo Yunlong and Sun Wenhuan exchanged a glance, frowned, and remained silent.

The news that Zhang Jingchuan, the Earl of Pinglu, had surrendered to the Qing Dynasty reached beyond the Great Wall, greatly shocking many Ming soldiers.

Compared to most generals,

People like Zhang Jingchuan, who rose from ordinary soldiers to generals and nobles through their military exploits, were more admired by the lower-ranking soldiers.

There's a saying that goes, "A soldier who doesn't want to be a general isn't a good soldier."

With role models and benchmarks like Zhang Jingchuan already established, how to follow their example is up to the individual.

But when news of the Ming general Pinglu surrendering to the Qing reached the Liaodong front, the lower-ranking soldiers suddenly felt a sense of collapse of their faith.

For Wu Sangui,

If Zhang Jingchuan really surrendered to the Qing, he would be happy, but this happiness was more like gloating.

At the same time, he was unwilling to believe it.

Because once the surrender to the Qing becomes a reality, the morale of the soldiers will be severely damaged.

By then,

Let alone rescuing Guangning City, even holding onto Gaoling Post Station would be difficult.

“My lord,” Guo Yunlong sighed in a low voice, “the news of Zhang Jingchuan’s surrender to the Qing has spread not only within the Great Wall, but also among the Qing army.”

“Yes,” Sun Wenhuan nodded, “the soldiers in the army are all talking about this now…”

Wu Sangui took a deep breath and then slowly sighed.

He walked outside the military tent and looked at the demoralized Ming soldiers, feeling a mix of emotions.

In just two years,

Has the name Zhang Jingchuan really reached the point where it can influence the entire Ming army in Liaodong?

Right now,

Wu Sangui began to consider withdrawing his troops.

Guangning was besieged, and Zhang Jingchuan surrendered to the Qing.

Liaodong,

I can't hold it any longer!

……

on the sea,

Standing at the bow of the ship, Tian Hongyu felt the warm, salty sea breeze and was in a good mood.

He, along with his adopted daughter Chen Yuanyuan and a group of servants, paid a visit to Huang Fei, the Admiral of the Dengzhou Navy, at the port of Zhongqiansuo in Guangning.

Huang Fei was loading the last batch of four thousand warhorses sent by Tong Puhan.

Logically speaking, the warships of the Dengzhou Navy should not be able to carry so many warhorses. Therefore, Huang Fei took it upon himself to seize and requisition all twenty seagoing vessels used by the imperial court to transport grain and supplies in the name of the naval admiral.

Not only that, it also dragged more than a hundred fishing boats in the vicinity into the fray.

Upon hearing that they were going to Fuzhouwei, the territory of the Earl of Pinglu, the boatmen of these fishing boats showed no resistance whatsoever and all responded to Huang Fei's call with their families.

The officers and soldiers of the Dengzhou Navy naturally knew about the situation in Fuzhou Guard. When they had free time and drank, they naturally told the fishermen and laborers in the port about the scene there, and then the story spread from one to ten, and from ten to a hundred.

In Fuzhouwei...

Not only soldiers received their full pay, but conscripted laborers and auxiliary soldiers also received their corresponding pay.

Women can earn money in the workshops there, and children can go to school for free.

Soldiers are not unreasonable, officials do not oppress the people, and most importantly, taxes are low.

How could ordinary people like them not be tempted by such conditions?

Moreover, the Earl of Pinglu was renowned for his prestige and was known for his clear system of rewards and punishments.

Even the officers and soldiers of the Dengzhou Navy, after a few rounds of drinks, would give a thumbs up and proudly say: "We are the soldiers of Lord Pinglu!"

As for Tian Hongyu's good mood

Naturally, he learned from Huang Fei that the story of the Earl of Pinglu surrendering to the Qing was a complete rumor.

Therefore,

Tian Hongyu was confident, and completing the task assigned to him by Wang Dehua was even simpler and easier.

more importantly,

He wants to get close to the powerful Duke Pinglu!

……